Two women locked in cell with up to 20 people in ‘disgusting' NT watch house
Two Aboriginal women say they have been locked in a hot, poorly ventilated cell with up to 20 people and a single tap above a toilet for drinking water in 'disgusting' conditions within the Alice Springs watch house.
Police watch houses across the Northern Territory have been repurposed as long-term prison cells as record imprisonment numbers push the system to breaking point.
The women's affidavits, submitted to the Alice Springs local court last month, describe their cells as 'hot, stressful and smelly' with no fresh air and inadequate space for each person to have a mattress. They said they showered every second day, sometimes walking past the men's cells to do so.
'The cell really stinks and is disgusting. You can not get away from the smell,' said Deanna, 30.
'I have not been given bottled water and have to drink the water from above the toilet. The water is warm or hot … There are arguments every day between the women.'
The 'inhumane' conditions inside the watch house are a violation of human rights, alleged Dr John Paterson, the convener of Aboriginal Peak Organisations Northern Territory (Apo nt), an alliance of bodies representing Aboriginal people.
'No one deserves to be deprived of basic healthcare or denied access to clean drinking water,' he said.
'It is unacceptable, discriminatory and harmful, and has no place in the Territory or in Australia.
'Regardless of your political views on justice, we must all draw the line at allowing this degradation of humanity, of health and of culture, to exist within our community.'
Simone, 35, said she had been held in the watch house for more than eight weeks, except for six days spent in hospital because she had back pain and 'doctors were worried about my kidneys'.
After returning to the watch house, she said her lawyer later found some medication with her property that she had not been receiving. She said doctors also told her to use her puffer.
'When using my puffer I am meant to rinse my mouth after every use,' she said.
'I am sometimes not able to do this, as the only source of water provided is a bubbler on top of the toilet and these are shared by up to 20 people between the three cell areas shared by all the women.
'This is disgusting and the sink is often filled with sick and other peoples [sic] saliva. The toilets are blocked and stink.'
Apo nt has called for an urgent meeting with the NT government.
The NT Corrections minister, Gerard Maley, has been contacted for comment.
Last month there were 2,613 people locked up in the NT – more than 1% of the territory's population of 255,100, according to the Department of Corrections.
The NT Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, has previously said the figures showed her government's tough on crime approach was working, but has conceded the rising prisoner numbers were pushing the correctional system to 'breaking point'.
Work is under way to add up to 1,000 beds to the NT prison system by 2028.
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The Guardian
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